Empagliflozin Reduces CVD Risk in Patients With T2D and PAD

Empagliflozin (Jardiance; Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly) lowered the risk of cardiovascular death vs placebo when added to standard of care in adults with both type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease, according to data presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2017. 

The findings are from a post-hoc analysis of the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial (n>7,000). At study initiation, 21% of the total study subjects had existing peripheral artery disease. Data from this patient group showed that empagliflozin cut the risk of cardiovascular death by 43% compared with placebo. All-cause mortality was lowered by 38% and hospitalization for heart failure by 44%. 

Moreover, the risk for the composite endpoint (cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack or non-fatal stroke) was reduced by 16% and nephropathy was cut by 46%. The cardiovascular and renal effects seen with this patient group were consistent with previously observed data of the overall EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial population.

Lower-limb amputations occurred in 5.5% of peripheral artery disease patients in the empagliflozin-treated group compared to 6.3% in the placebo group.

Jardiance, a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, is currently indicated along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known cardiovascular disease.  

Reference

Jardiance reduced risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease [press release]. Ingelheim, Germany and Indianpolis; Business Wire: November 14. 2017. Accessed November 27, 2017. 

This article originally appeared on MPR